Learning 2.0 at IBM

Several companies restrict employee access to social networking sites, web based email and chat services. In fact, quite a few companies even block access to the internet, forcing employees to use a rather restrictive intranet facility to communicate with one another. Such extreme caution seems only natural, given the fact that security is a major liability in any internet based transaction. Gossip, harassment, and the loss of privacy and confidentiality are just some of the obstacles to be faced in allowing employees access to the internet in general and web 2.0 tools in particular.

The abuse of technology has always been a fear that we’ve had to combat. But ignoring powerful technology because is can be used for the wrong means doesn’t seem the right way ahead. At least that seems to be the attitude that IBM has towards social media. Playing well with others, is an interesting report that I came across in the Wall Street Journal archives. I was quite amazed that IBM employees were using wikis, blogs, virtual worlds and social book marking, to enhance their learning and services, back in 2007. The report also speaks about the measures that IBM takes in order to safeguard security, privacy and confidentiality.